The Twisted Childhood Universe returns with another horrifying reimagining of a famous story. This time, Bambi is on the chopping block, or, more accurately, Bambi the deer is now the hunter instead of the hunted. The preconceived notions about these films are deeply ingrained at this point. No one is expecting The Shining, or even Terrifier. These adaptations exist to subvert the classic children’s stories and rework them into garish nightmares. Success is mainly in the eye of the beholder. To some, these movies are right on target as a fun and scary spoof. To others, a blatant degradation of public domain characters, all to make a B-grade horror movie. When it comes to Bambi: The Reckoning, it is the latter rather than the former.
The only interesting part of Bambi: The Reckoning occurs at the beginning of the film. There is an accounting of what happened to Bambi and his mother. The depiction is stylized and almost gives an inkblot vibe, giving us hope that this retelling may have some substance behind it. And then the movie starts.
Bambi goes mutant in this entry, because why not? The story is simple and debased. After the death of his mother, a grief-stricken Bambi goes on a deadly rampage, seeking revenge for the death of his mother. Following a car wreck, a mother, Xana (Roxanne McKee), and her son, Benji (Tom Mulheron), find themselves in Bambi’s vengeful crosshairs and soon become hunted by the crazed deer.
To its credit, Bambi: The Reckoning knows precisely what it is doing here. There is never an attempt to become a highbrow horror exploit or some provocative examination of grief and the bond between mothers and sons. However, that still does not absolve the film of its shortcomings. The script is too pedantic. There is an infusion of subplots and forced family drama to try to give the movie some weight. Characters make idiotic-horror-movie decisions, and Bambi is like the shark from Jaws, but on land. Galloping through the forest, terrorizing all in its wake, and owning the night. Bambi is vengeance, but the act feels like a one-trick pony show.
Yet, the movie introduces a surprisingly different angle where, much like the Frankenstein monster, we begin to question if Bambi is a mere vengeful animal or a creature of misunderstanding. This element of humanity does lend the film some extra weight; however, the brief runtime prevents these elements from becoming fully developed story points, instead leaving them as mere elements. The movie waffles between being a traditional horror film and something a tad melodramatic; this is, after all, a retelling of Bambi. However, these tonal shifts only add to the confusing walk through the woods that is this movie.
A film like this does not possess grand or even ambitious aims. In the same tradition of the Winnie the Pooh monstrosity, Bambi, in this course of events, is the epitome of a creature feature. Hellbent and unstoppable. Clocking in at an hour and twenty minutes, there is little excess fat on this story. However, the added elements, such as a quick commentary on animal cruelty and the strength of family bonds, are never given enough time to marinate and become mere cannon fodder to the plot.
Perhaps, the film’s biggest plus has nothing to do with the overall plot or trappings, but it is Bambi himself. The digital deer is surprisingly practical and realistic. For a creature feature, this monster is a stand-out. Even the gruesome kills in Bambi renderings are imaginative and bloody. Still, this is something of a ghost deer of a movie. We know it is there, but we never know where or what it is.
Bambi: The Reckoning is currently playing in theaters courtesy of ITN Studios and Jagged Edge Productions.
Galloping through the forest, terrorizing all in its wake, and owning the night. Bambi is vengeance, but the act feels like a one-trick pony show.
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Writing & podcasting, for the love of movies.
His Letterboxd Favorites: The Dark Knight, Halloween, Jaws & Anora.
